Filing cabinets



March 25, 1958 Filed Feb. 2'7, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

691mm 0, JOHNSON March 25, 1958 c. D. JOHNSON 2,828,177

FILING CABINETS Filed, Feb. 27. 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 llll ILIM i1 11%? I IIiIMWWF Ii--- INVENTOR. O94 w/v D. JOHNSON I Man Mon 60- 92/ u m w n a u m w u m llllllPHhFll llll hV h-T mllllvlll b United States Patent anew nmmo CABINETS Qalvin Q Johnson, Upper Marlboro, Md. Application: February 27, l957,: Serial No. 642,781

ta t-laws eat-r2111) My invention relates to filing or storage-cabinets.

:My lnvention relates more particularly to filing or storage cabinets of the type capable of being-securely locked when not in use, and to t-he means for eitecting such locking. i

One such construction contemplates the provision of a .cabinet having a plurality of .vertically aligned -drawer compartments, each a complete enclosure for an individual drawer, each ,drawer compartment having a backwalhitop, :bottomand sidewalls of a-hardened, drill resistant steel combined with a heavy reinforced front column or wall having drawer openings' therein, so that when certain :locking mechanism is released each individual drawerrnayr'be pulled out for-access to the contentsof-Vthe same. i 7 7 My invention further contemplates-the provision with a structure of this .type of a -single combination lock mounted central1y o f the front column or frame of the cabinet capable of manipulation to release locking pins or bolts which normally engage in aligned openings in rails attached to opposite sides of the individual drawers The locking pins are preferably positioned within the sides ,of the front columns .so that both locking bolts and cooperating tails are at all times concealed and inaccessible to any attempt to tamper with the same. Addition'ally, in a closed and locked position the front of the drawers ;will be in the same plane as the face of the side columns -making it impossible to engage the same with achiselor other :tool to attempt to wedge the drawer open.

I also provide in connection .with the bolt of the combination lockanoperating' levercr arm which, when the drawers are released, will stand in .an upright position as a visual ,indicator that the drawers are not locked, the indicator remaining in this position regardless of whether =;the. drawer' isropen ;or shut, so that at a glance persons in the vicinity can tell if the cabinet is locked or unlocked; Thus in a busy office and where highly secretive documents are ,kept, this permits easy checking of ,the condition of the filing cabinets without the necessity of trying each drawer 'to determine whether it is locked or not.

For a more comprehensive explanation of the structure employedend the resultant advantages thereof, reference 'is had -to the following description and the accom'panyingdrawiflg h I Fig.1 is a front'perspective-vievv howi my p o construction of filing cabinet and the manner in which sections maybe vertically aligned and positioned one on top of the'other;

Fig, 21is a'fragrnentary front elevational view of the combination lock and operating lever or visual indicator shown in the position it assumes when the storage cabinet is locked;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front ele t View Of mp nd a-view of the upper drawers of a filing or storage cabinet;

Fig. 4 :is a plan sectional view through the storage disposed in a suitable bearing 2,828,17? Patented Mar. .25, 1958 2. cabinet and one of the drawers, showing the manner in which the'drawe'r is locked therein, taken on the line 4-4 {of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5- is a detailed sectional view through one of-the locking bolts and'associated parts, taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4;'

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 6 -64% Fig; 3, withparts broicen-in section toforeshorten the same; and d "Fig. 7 is -a fragmentary plan sectional view through the'upper-portion of the housing, showing the racks for operating theverticalrods which control the locking bolts, and is taken on th'e' line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

In the embodiment-of the invention which -I have chosen to illustrate and described the same, and as best illustrated in Fig. l, the filing or storage cabinet which -I :provide may'generallyin'clude a front which has the vertical side columns' lz and '14 connected throughout their height b -upper and lower frame members 16 and 18 and drawer spacer'bars 20. Each'of the side columns 12 and 14 is constructed of a generally U-shaped channel member 22 which is welded or' otherwise secured to the vertical side walls 24 of -adrawer housing 26. Each of the drawer housings '26 has the back wall 28, bottom wall 32 and top wall 32, the housing being rectagnular in shape and terminatingin the drawer opening 34.

The front end of each ot the walls 24 has a flange 24a adapted to be welded in the inside of the channel shaped columns 12 and 14. For extra strength and resistance to breakage, -I provide the reinforced front panels 24b and a peripheral strip 240 to receive the aligni'ngb'ars -36a-of-t he-front panel 36 of a drawer 38. Eachdrawer is open at the top,'has a bottom wall 40, an end wall 42, and vertical side walls 44. Suitable rollers and tracks (not shown) may be provided in the space between the walls d iof'the drawer and the vertical walls of the drawer housing, upon which the drawers may -travel-in and out. Each drawer may also beprovided-with an index holder 48 and drawer handle5ti.

As previously pointed out, the principal object of the invention is to provide a storage cabinet capable of being securely :locked when not in use and with each drawer completely enclosed in a drawer compartment.

This structure has been shown and thus far described.

In order to provide an effective locking mechanism for-eacha'nd all -'of the drawers and theirindividual compartments, l provide each drawer'with a pair of U-shaped channel members "52 welded or otherwise secured to'the outside surface of the vertical side walls 44 of the drawer. Each of the channel members 52 is provided with one opening 54% which, when the drawer is completely closed as shown in Fig. 4, is aligned with a locking bolt 56. Each locking bolt 56 is carried in a holder 58 that is fastened to the flange 24a of the side walls 24 of the drawer compartment 26, and as best shown in Fig. 5, two channels 52 are provided on each side of each of the sidewalls 44 ofithe drawer.

Each of .the locking bolts 55 is formed on one sidewith the rack 60 for engagement with a pinion formation 62 on the vertically disposed operating rod 64. One operating rod dais mounted in each of the side frame members .12 and 14, the rod 64 at its lower end being (not shown) in the base of the columns 12 and 14 and being provided, as best shown in Fig. 6, withpinion formations 62 at each of the locking bolts 56.

I provide a driving pinion 66 at the upper end of each of the rods 64. One of the pinions 66 engages the teeth 68 at the end of a horizontally disposed rack 70, and the other pinion engages the teeth 72 of a second horizontally disposed rack 74. The racks and 74 are also provided with teeth 76 78 respectively that mesh with a pinion gear 80 mounted on a stub shaft 82. The racks 7t} and 74 are mounted for horizontal reciprocation in a pair of fiat bearing members 84 and 86 positioned on the floor 88 of a hollow top frame member that connects with the side frame members 12 and 14. Bearing 84 has a limit stop wall 85 against which the end of the rack '74 may abut in a retracted condition of the lock bolt 56, and bearing 86 has a limit-stop wall 87 for the same purpose for the rack bar 70. The opposite limit stops of course are the vertical end walls %a of the housing and 9d!) of the top frame member 90.

The stub shaft 82. carries a pinion gear 592 that meshes with a similar pinion gear 94 on the bolt 96 of a combination lock assembly 98. A bearing 1% provides support to the end of the bolt 96 and also for the upper end of the stub shaft 82 within the frame member 90. The top frame member 9%), as best shown in Fig. 6, may be generally rectangular in cross-section, and is constructed from a channel member 162 and a front plate 104 which may be welded or otherwise suitably fastened together.

I also provide the heavy reinforcing plate 106 on the front of the frame member, corresponding to the reinforcing plates 2421 of the side frame members 12 and 14.

The combination lock 98 may be of the general or usual type which, when the proper combination setting is provided, permits the connection of the bolt 96a with the bolt 96 so that the bolt 96 may be rotated. The bolt 96:: is provided with the usual handle or lever 108 which, in the normal locked condition of the combination lock, is in a horizontal plane, and which, when the proper combination is set, may be rotated through an arc of 90 upwardly to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3. This rotation through 90 rotates the pinion 80 and moves the racks 70 and 74 to rotate the rods 64 and withdraw the lock bolts 56 from engagement with the openings in the channels 52 positioned on the side walls 44 of the drawer. When these bolts are withdrawn the drawers may be opened.

From the above and foregoing description it can be seen that I have provided an exceptionally strong and rigid filing cabinet, one that is provided with individual enclosed compartments for each of the drawers theiein. The side columns are so arranged in conjunction with the top frame member that complete cabinets may be set one on top of the other, as shown in Fig. 1, if desired. Further, by provision of the visual signal or indicator lever 1%, it is a simple matter to observe the condition of the cabinets, and if the indicia levers 138 are in a vertical position the cabinets are unlocked. Insorder to lock the same, it is thus necessary to swing the lever 108 down to the horizontal position shown in Fig. 3, turn the dials of the combination lock, and the cabinet is locked.

While I have illustrated and described a specific embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made in the exact details shown and I do not wish to limit myself in any particular; rather what I desire to secure and protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A filing cabinet including a structure having front vertical columns, a hollow top frame member connecting the same, a bottom cross-brace and a front having a plurality of drawer openings, each of said drawer openings having a separate compartment extending from said opening, slidable drawers in said compartments, a combination lock mounted in said top frame member, horizontal racks movable thereby, vertical rods in said vertical columns rotatable by said racks and locking bolts actuated by said rods to lock each drawer in its compartment. V

2 A filing cabinet including a structure having front vertical columns, a hollow top frame member connecting the same, a bottom cross-brace and a front having a plurality of drawer openings, each of said drawer openings having a separate compartment extending from said opening, slidable drawers in said compartments, a combination lock mounted in said top frame member, horizontal racks movable thereby, vertical rods in said vertical columns rotatable by said racks and locking bolts actuated by said rods to lock each drawer, in its compartment, said combination lock having a bolt, a lever on the end of said bolt, said lever movable to an upright position when said drawers are unlocked.

3. A security filing cabinet which includes a housing forming a compartment having top, side and back walls and a front wall having an opening therein, a drawer capable of insertion in said compartment through said front wall opening, said drawer having an open top, side Walls and a front Wall which lies flush with the opening of the front wall of said housing when closed, a combination lock mounted in said housing above the opening therein and lock bolts actuated thereby for engaging openings in the side walls of said drawer to lock the same in place, said lock bolts having racks formed therein and vertical rods having pinions rotated by said combination lock for moving said lock bolts.

4. A security filing cabinet which includes a housing forming a compartment having top, side and back walls and a front wall having an opening therein, a drawer capable of insertion in said compartment through said front wall opening, said drawer having an open top, side walls and a front wall which lies flush with the opening of the front wall of said housing when closed, a combination lock mounted in said housing above the opening therein .and lock bolts actuated thereby for engaging openings in the side walls of said drawer to lock the same in place, said lock bolts having racks formed therein and vertical rods having pinions rotated by said combination lock for moving said lock bolts, said combination lock also having an indicia lever for indicating the condition of the same.

5. A security filing cabinet comprising a housing having a pair of hollow columns, a front wall connected between the same and a hollow brace connected across the top of the same, said cabinet having individual compartments, individual drawers for each compartment, a pair of vertically disposed rods mounted in said side columns, horizontally disposed lock bolts actuated thereby, openings in the sides of said drawers to receive said bolts and a combination lock mounted in said top cross-frame for actuating said rods to move said bolts into or out of locking engagement, said combination lock including a worm gear actuated thereby, a pinion driven by said worm gear, a pair of horizontally disposed racks actuated by said worm gear, said racks adapted to rotate said vertically disposed rods through to actuate said horizontally disposed lock bolts. 6. A security filing cabinet comprising a housing having a pair of vertical side columns, a front wall having a horizontal top connecting column and a plurality of vertically aligned drawer openings, each of said openings having an elongated rectangular housing extending back from said front Wall forming a drawer compartment, an open topped drawer in each of said compartments, each of said drawers having a pair of horizontal U-shaped rails on the side walls of the same, a pair of vertically aligned openings in each set of rails, a vertically disposed rod in each of said side columns, locking bolts associated with each of said rods, said bolts being in pairs and adapted to enter the openings in said rails for locking engagement, said rods extending into said upper horizontal frame member, pinions on the ends of said rods, racks in said horizontal frame member engaging said pinions, and a combination lock on said upper frame member adapted to be actuated to operate said racks for either a locking or unlocking action.

7. A security filing cabinet comprising a housing having a pair of vertical side columns, a front wall having a horizontal top connecting column and a plurality of vertically aligned drawer openings, each of said openings seesaw having an elongated rectangular housing extending back from said front wall forming a drawer compartment, an open topped drawer in each of said compartments, each of said drawers having a pair of horizontal U-shaped rails on the side walls of the same, a pair of vertically aligned openings in each set of rails, a vertically disposed rod in each of said side columns, locking bolts associated with each of said rods, said bolts being in pairs and adapted to enter'the openings in said rails for locking engagement, said rods extending into said upper horizontal frame member, pinions on the ends-of said rods, racks in said horizontal frame member engaging said pinions, and a combination lock on said upper frame member adapted to be actuated to operate said racks for either a locking or unlocking action, said combination lock including a worm gear actuated thereby, a pinion driven by said worm gear, a pair of horizontally disposed racks actuated by said worm gear, said racks adapted to rotate said vertically disposed rods through 90 to actuate said horizontally disposed lock bolts.

8. A security filing cabinet comprising a housing having a pair of vertical side columns, a front wall having a horizontal top connecting column and a plurality of vertically aligned drawer openings, each of said openings having an elongated rectangular housing extending back from said front wall forming a drawer compartment, an open topped drawer in each of said compartments, each of said drawers having a pair of horizontal U-shaped rails on the side walls of the same, a pair of vertically aligned openings in each set of rails, a vertically disposed rod in each of said side columns, locking bolts associated with each of said rods, said bolts being in pairs and adapted to enter the openings in said rails for locking engagement, said rods extending into said upper horizontal frame member, pinions on the ends of said rods, racks in said horizontal frame member engaging said pinions, and a combination lock on said upper frame member adapted to be actuated to operate said racks for either a locking or unlocking action, said combination lock including a worm gear actuated thereby, a pinion driven by said worm gear, a pair of horizontally disposed racks actuated by said worm gear, said racks adapted to rotate said vertically disposed rods through 90 to actuate said horizontally disposed lock bolts, said combination lock also having an indicator lever connected with the bolt of the same, said lever movable to an upright position when the combination is set and the drawers are unlocked.

9. A security filing cabinet comprising a housing having a pair of hollow vertical columns, a front wall connected between the same and a hollow brace connected across the top of the same, said cabinet having individual compartments, individual drawers for each compartment, a pair of vertically disposed rods mounted in said side columns, horizontally disposed lock bolts actuated thereby, openings in the sides of said drawers to receive said bolts and a combination lock mounted in said-hollow brace for actuating said rods to move said bolts into or out of locking engagement, said lock including horizontally disposed racks positioned in said hollow brace and in driving engagement with said vertically disposed rods to rotate the same.

10. A security filing cabinet comprising a housing having a pair of hollow vertical columns, a front wall connected between the same and a hollow brace connected across the top of the same, said cabinet having individual compartments, individual drawers for each compartment, a pair of vertically disposed rods mounted in said side columns, horizontally disposed lock bolts actuated thereby, openings in the sides of said drawers to receive said bolts and a combination lock mounted in said hollow brace for actuating said rods to move said bolts into or out of locking engagement, said combination lock having a bolt and an indicator lever on the end of said bolt, said lever movable to an upright position when the combination is set and said drawers are unlocked, said lock including horizontally disposed racks positioned in said hollow brace and in driving engagement with said vertically disposed rods to rotate the same.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 335,668 Woodruff Feb. 9, 1886 1,315,709 Coombs Sept. 9, 1919 1,909,848 Rand May 16, 1933 1,928,265 Rand Sept. 26, 1933 2,136,584 Benjamin Nov. 15, 1938 2,672,390 Blashfield Mar. 16, 1954 

